François Villard : Version 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for Saint-Péray "Version" 2023 by François Villard

Tasting notes

Colour
White in colour, this wine reveals a pale yellow hue enhanced by brilliant golden highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is seductive, with scents of white flowers, ripe peach and quince, delicately rounded out by touches of almond and honeycomb.

Palate
Both round and precise, the palate offers delicious notes of stone fruit, citrus zest and sweet spices. The whole is supported by a lovely mineral tension, leading to a rich and elegant finish.

Food and wine pairing

The estate recommends pairing this wine with lobster bisque, risotto or a Calvados-flambéed tarte flambée. More broadly, it will pair wonderfully with seafood in creamy sauce, monkfish roasted in saffron butter, guinea fowl with apricots or mature cheeses.

Service and storage

Saint-Péray "Version" 2023 can be enjoyed now for its generosity, but it also has the structure needed to age in the cellar until around 2030.

Other characteristics

This wine has an alcohol content of 13.5%.

The balance and minerality of a great white wine from Saint-Péray

The estate

Founded in 1989 in France, in the Rhône Valley, the estate is the work of a former passionate chef who became a self-taught winemaker of great talent. Still run by François Villard today, the estate has established itself as an unmissable reference in the region. Drawing on his background in gastronomy, the current owner brings a unique vision to his cuvées, favouring manual work and respect for the soil. Certified organic since 2022, the estate produces authentic wines that faithfully reflect the richness of their terroirs.

The vineyard

The grapes come from the Saint-Péray appellation, in the southern part of the northern region. The vines, averaging around twenty years of age, thrive on terroirs of decomposed granite and clay-limestone soils spread across the areas of Ardoix, Chavanay and Saint-Pierre-de-Boeuf. Facing east and southeast, the plots benefit from ideal sun exposure while being shielded from excessive heat. The vineyard is worked entirely by hand, with natural grass cover to encourage soil vitality.

Winemaking and aging

The creation of the "Version" 2023 begins with meticulous hand-harvesting, followed by gentle pressing. Fermentation takes place in barrels through the action of indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged for ten to eleven months in French oak barrels, a small proportion of which are new, with regular lees stirring to develop its texture and aromatic complexity.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Marsanne (70%) and Roussanne (30%).